CLERGY-The Archbishop Dr. R. O. Adigbo JP, the General Overseer of one St.Lazarus Christ Church New Bethel Int’l Inc, a church spatially domiciled around Delta Central and it’s environs has totally decries the celebration of Christmas as not having any biblical root.
The Super Clergy made this known to newsmen on Sunday immediately after hosting an all-night program at the church headquarters Ewu-Ughelli, Delta State.
“I and my congregation don’t and will not celebrate Christmas because, it has no biblical root” Archbishop Adigbo said while addressing newsmen.
Bight News also gathered that the clergy has made a publication of the same issue on his official Facebook page.
Read the full publication below;
THE MESSAGE OF ARCHBISHOP DR. R. O. ADIGBO JP ON CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION.
By; His Grace Archbishop Dr. R. O. Adigbo JP
There is no argument that “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son…” John 3:16
But it is alarmingly disheartening how our contemporary age have deviated from the true word of God and cleave to lessons which will or would only suit and soothe their aims.
Most Christians have not known the truth about the celebration of Christmas especially in this part of Africa due to the strong belief on western colonization who brought Christianity to the black race.
Africans particularly Nigerians, were left with no option than to accept whatever teachings the colonial masters brought before them, this have brought a total menace upon our contemporary generation.
However, notwithstanding, the preceding is not enough reasons to atone for deviating from the ordinances of God. Simply because, the Bible is there to serve as a guide as to what God required of his people.
To further support this, Jesus said “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God”. Mathew 22:29.
It is imperative for us to begin to examine the scriptures and under critical examination, from the book of Genesis to Revelation, there is no mention of the word “CHRISTMAS” in the bible.
And therefore, it has no biblical origin as neither Jesus, His disciples nor the apostles did not command nor mentioned of it.
God never changed except by a teacher, preacher or a prophet”- St. L. A. Arhavwarien(1918- 1975). This is to further stress that the concept of Christmas is nowhere near the Bible.
Some doubtful minds would want to ask, isn’t the birth of Jesus important to the world? my response is ‘Yes, it is ‘ but I want to leave you with these questions to ponder with;
- Is it the birth of Christ that redeemed the world or his death on the cross?
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If Christ had fallen to the temptation of Satan the devil in the wilderness and thus did not suffer and died on the cross, would he still have maintained his status as the Saviour of the world today?
A sincere answers to the above questions will only leave a sound mind with the fact that the death of Jesus brought redemption to the earth and not necessarily his birth and as such, the prevalence to his death is worth celebrating and not his birth.
To support this, in any of Christ’s gospels and teachings, He (Jesus) did not in any way give recourse to his birth either directly or by proxy. But Jesus Christ ordered his disciples categorically to remember his suffering and death eternally.
“And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19. And this is the biblical origin of Holy Communion and the feast of Easter as done in some denominations today.
But where is that of Christmas? Nowhere to be found around the scriptures.
Some of you would like to ask if the birth of Christ is not relevant and not worth celebrating.
Let me take you down the biblical timelines of comparison of the day of birth and death as to which is supposed to be celebrated.
The book of Ecclesiastics 7:1-4, the bible elucidated that the day of death is better than the day of birth, for by death the works of all men could be evaluated, whether good or bad.
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” Ecclesiastics 7:1.
“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof ” Ecclesiastics 7:8
Furthermore, Psalm 116:15 stressed that “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” And not their births. That is why it not a surprise to me why Jesus Christ did not give any prevalence to his birth but his death.
Secondly, there are just two accounts of Birthday celebrations in the entire bible which were both celebrated by paganic mornachs. One in the Old testament (by Pharoah of Egypt and in the New Testament by Herod) Genesis 40:20-22, and Mathew 14:6-11 respectively.
“And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that He made a feast unto all his servants: and He lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.”Genesis 40:20.
“And He sent, and beheaded John in the prison.” Mathew 14:6.
A critical analysis of the above two birthday accounts in the bible reveals that, the spirit of the celebration of birthdays is always accompanied with bloodshed and death consequently.
Similarly, today’s, and every year Christmas is not an exemption of the vices that do accompany birthday celebrations considering the hike of atrocities, death rate, marital or nuptial disengagement, heavy indebtedness, skyrocketing prices of commodities, drunkenness and all sort of immortality pumps up to the brim all in the name of Christ’s birthday.
But how about the period of Easter celebration, does it happen the same way? Capital ‘NO’, you all can not compare the serenity enjoyed during the Easter celebration to that of Christmas.
To conclude this article, I want to profer answer to the tentative questions of some people who may want to ask; how can an aged long practice (Christmas) be changed overnight and does it mean all the churches who celebrate Christmas are not Godly?
I will leave you with this scriptures, Mathew 7:13 and 14.
“ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”Mathew 7:14.
I pray that you read and ponder on this critically as we can collectively make a step closer to correct the world each day.
Thank you and God bless you richly.
Bight News
